A total of 901 overstaying overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have returned home as a result of Vice President Jejomar Binay’s visit to these countries.
“Many of our kababayans facing difficulties abroad are clamoring for government to help them return home, so we are continuing our efforts to reunite then with their families,” he said. Binay is also the Presidential Adviser on OFW Concerns.
The Vice President said he is exploring all avenues to bring the remaining stranded OFWs home as he encouraged the private sector to help in the repatriation. Binay cited Etihad Airlines which provided substantial discounts for the plane fares of repatriates.
According to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), there are currently 994 stranded OFWs worldwide as of August this year.
In Kuwait, 111 female OFWs who have been long-time wards of the POLO-OWWA Filipino Workers Resource Center have been repatriated through the Vice President’s intervention.
Seven hundred ninety OFWs were stranded for years at the Hajj Seaport Terminal in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia have also been sent home through the Vice President’s mass repatriation project in June 2011.
Binay secured special rates with Etihad Airlines on flights that took the OFWs home from June 1 to 8, 2011. All the stranded OFWs at the Hajj Terminal have returned to the country.
He was also able to obtain the consent of Saudi authorities to facilitate the repatriation of other overstaying OFWs at the resource centers in Riyadh and Jeddah, including in private homes.
Meanwhile, 125 OFWs in the Kingdom have also been granted amnesty for petty crimes in April of this year. Among those granted amnesty was an OFW pardoned of drug charges after being imprisoned for three years.
The pardon was given through concerted efforts by the Vice President who went to Saudi in March to personally reiterate the call for clemency.
The OFW met with Binay at the Office of the Vice President upon coming home.
An appeal was also made to Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah of Kuwait for the full pardon of 13 OFWs detained in Sulaibya Central Jail, and for the repatriation of 92 distressed workers.
As of August 2011, about 600 OFWs are considered eligible for pardon for petty crimes in Saudi Arabia. –Daily Tribune
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